Top five: Football League targets

With the summer transfer window just around the corner, speculation is already rife with plenty of players linked with moves to various different clubs.

In England, bright young talent comes at a premium, meaning Premier League sides have been forced to part with vast amounts of money to clinch what they perceived to be the next big star of the future.

However, as UEFA's Financial Fair Play model hovers precariously over clubs all around Europe, it's time to turn attention to the pool of exciting players currently plying their respective trades outside of the top-flight.

GiveMeFootball identifies five of the best Premier League transfer targets in the lower reaches of English football...

Nick Powell (Crewe Alexandra)

Fresh from the Railwaymen's League Two play-off final victory over Cheltenham on Sunday, the 18-year-old forward's reputation continues to grow almost by the day.

With 15 league goals in his first full season with Crewe's first-team, Powell has already attracted interest from Manchester United, and is almost certain to move on to pastures new this summer. His weekend goal at Wembley showed just a glimpse of the class and natural ability that the England U18 international possesses.

Crewe assistant manager, Neil Baker, believes Powell could turn out to be the club's greatest ever academy product, which is particularly impressive when you consider the calibre of players that have been nurtured there.

Powell's reputation was further strengthened at Crewe's end-of-season awards when he collected every accolade including Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

The 19-year-old winger has already attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs, and was the subject of a £7million offer from Bolton Wanderers during the January transfer window.

Crystal Palace quickly knocked back the Trotters' attempts to sign the promising England U21 international, but will struggle to fight off the advances of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, who have all been monitoring Zaha's progress.

A return of nine goals in the Championship this season shows that there is still room for improvement, but his natural pace and skill with the ball proves the tricky youngster has plenty of potential.

Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace)

Another product fresh off the Selhurst Park production line, the 21-year-old defender is a little further in his development as one of England's brightest young talents.

The only problem for Crystal Palace is that Clyne is out of contract this summer, and so is free to talk to clubs over a prospective move.

Newcastle and Manchester United have both been credited with an interest in the talented full-back, but will be put off by his current club's determination to demand £5million at a tribunal.

Palace have already moved to replace Clyne after signing Portsmouth's Joel Ward, 22, on a four-year deal yesterday afternoon.

Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield)

The 22-year-old is one of the most sought after striker's outside the Premier League following his record-breaking 40-goal season with League One play-off final winners Huddersfield Town.

Fulham, Everton and Aston Villa have all been linked with Rhodes, who could command a figure of up to £8million, particularly after Simon Grayson's Terriers confirmed their place in next season's second tier after their penalty shoot-out victory over Sheffield United.

The Scotland U21 international is also a reported target for SPL champions Celtic, having netted an impressive five hat-tricks in 2011-12, in addition to his five-goal haul in the 6-0 thrashing of Wycombe Wanderers in January.

Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City)

The 18-year-old midfielder has surpassed all expectations - including his own - in his breakthrough season for Birmingham in 2011-12, making 37 first-team appearances for Chris Hughton's side.

Redmond came back from the U17 World Cup last summer in fine fettle, and carried his form into the domestic campaign at St Andrews, scoring seven goals, which is an impressive return from midfield.

Having experienced European football during the Blues Europa League campaign, thanks to last season's Carling Cup final success, the talented youngster is hungry for more, and could well make the step up to the Premier League ahead of the new campaign.

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